Distributor for washing machines



New. 26, 1929. 7 H. R. MERSELES DISTRIBUTOR FOR WASHING MACHINES 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 2,0

INVENTOR 7424 7/71 (14 BY Q Y/Wl/ H. R. MERSELES Nov. 26, 1929.

DISTRIBUTOR FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed May 20, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet ll/1274111 V atented Nov. 6, 129

HENRY R. MEBSELES, OF BRONXVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO HOBART MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF TROY, OHIO, A. OORIORATION DISTRIBUTOR FOR WASHING- MACHINES Application filed May 20,

This invention relates to washing machines of the type in which a rotary distributor is used to distribute the washing medium over the articles to be washed. The invention aims to improve the operation of such-machines and to increase the life of such machines by providing an improved bearing arrangement for the rotary distributor.

While the invention may be incorporated in washing machines of many diiierent sorts, it is particularly useful in machines for washing dishes and in machines for washing metal parts. It may be noted that the expression washing is herein used in a broad sense to include treatment of the surface of articles with any liquid, including cases in which the liquid has a chemical eifect on the articles as well as those which have a merely detergent eflect.

I have found that the wear on the thrust bearings of the rotary distributors used in washing machines is in large part the result of unbalanced liquid pressures within the distributors. The present invention affords a simple and effective means for eliminating such unbalanced pressures, and provides also an improved mounting .for such distributors.

The invention may be incorporated in various diiierentmechanical structures and may most clearly be-understood from a detailed description of the structures embodying it which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a dish washing machine having two rotary Wash waterdistributors located respectively above and below the dish support;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the distributors shown in Fig. 1 and its mounting, sectioned on the line 22 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the distributor and mounting shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 4-4: of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is atop View of a four-arm distributor adapted for use in large dish washing and parts washing machines showing -the mounting of this distributor; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section of the distributor shown in Fig.

1924. Serial No. 714,568.

5, the section being taken on a plane corresponding to the section plane of Fig. 4:.

The dishwashing machine shown in Fig. 1 comprises a casing 10 having in its bottom a tank 11,'from which wash water is pumped into a stand pipe 12 having a lower branch 13, and an upper branch 13'. The lower branch 13 terminates in an elbow 14 having an upwardly directed outlet opening, While the upper branch 13 terminates in a similar downwardly directed elbow 14. The dishes I or other articles to be washed are placed on a support 15 between the elbows 14 and 14. The wash water is distributed over the dishes by rotary distributors 20, 20', mounted at the discharge openingsof the elbows 14 and 14.

The distributor 20 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 includes a central hub 21 and two hollow arms 22 extending radially outward from the hub at diametrically opposite points.

Thearms may be made integral with the hub as shown. The arms 22 are provided with nozzles 23 containing discharge openings 24. The nozzles on the ends of the arms are turned at an angle to the axis of the hub in order to cause the distributor to rotate by the reaction of'the liquid discharged through them. The end nozzles may be adjustably mounted as shown.

The distributor20 is rotatably mounted at the outlet end of the elbow 14. The mounting of the distributor constitutes a feature of the invention. In the hub of the distributor is a spider 25, which may be made integral with the hub as shown. A sleeve 27 having an external flange 28at its upper end is rigidly secured to the spider'25 by screws 29 so that it is in etlect a part of the distributor. The sleeve 27 is rotatably mounted on a pin 30 which is fixed in the elbow 14 and projects axially through the outlet opening 31 of the elbow. Graphite bushings 32, 33 may besecured to the inner surface of the sleeve 27 at the upper and lower ends thereof in order to provide a good bearing against the outer surface of the pin 30. Thrust bearings are provided at each end of the sleeve 27. These may include a graphite disc 34: at the inner end of rec elbow 14 at the inner endof the pin 30; and a graphite washer 36 at the outer. end of the sleeve which bears against a disc 37 fixed at the outer end of the pin 30 by means of a nut 38.

It will be noted that the mounting described provides a long bearing for the disfrictional contact and at the same time to make this clearance very small so that no material portion of the liquid escapes between the elbow and the distributor. Escape of the liquid may be further impeded by an internal annular flange 43 in the opening 40, which lies just out of contact with the end of the elbow 14. I

It will be noted that the distributor which has'been described contains an intake opening 40 at one side of its plane of rotation and discharge openings 24 at the other side of its plane of rotation. In order that flow losses may be avoided and the pressure of the liquid at the discharge openings may be as nearly as possible equal to that at which the liquid is supplied to the elbow 14, the internal crosssectional'area of the elbow and the intake opening of the distributor is made much larger than the combined area of the discharge openings. So far as pressures acting in the direction of the axis of the distributor are concerned, the effective area of the opening 40 is the area included by the inner surface of the collar 41, since the inwardly projecting flange 43 receives fluid pressure on each side and may, therefore, be neglected;

and the effective area of the discharge openings 24 is the sum of the areas of the projections of these openings on the plane of rotation of the distributor. Since, for the reason mentioned, the effective area of the discharge openings is made materially less than that of the intake opening 40, the fluid. pressure in a distributor similar to that described and containing no openings other than the intake and discharge openings, is unbalanced and produces an excessive thrust on the outer thrust bearing of the distributor. It has been found that this thrust tends to retard the retation of the distributor and causes very rapid wear of the outer thrust bearing. An important object of the present invention is to eliminate this thrust. This is accomplished, in the distributors illustrated, by forming in the distributor an additional of the distributor. The fit is, however, sufliciently close to prevent any material escape of fluid at this point, and furthermore such liquid as leaks out around the disc 37 is directed in the same direction as the liquid escaping through the discharge openings.

Such liquid is, therefore, not wasted, butassists in the washing.

The area of the additional opening 50 is different from the area of the intakeopening 40 and is most desirably made such that the total effective area of the opening or openings at one side of the distributor is equal to .the total effective area of the opening or openings at the other side of the distributor.

Where the discharge openings are on the op posite side of the distributor from the intake opening, as shown, this is accomplished by making the area of the opening 50 equal to the difference between the effective area of the intake opening 40 and the effective area of the discharge openings 24. This results in balancing the inward and outward fluid pressures within the distributor 'so that the fluid pressure causes no thrust on either of the thrust bearings. This condition holds true regardless of the amount of the fluid pressure which may be applied to the distributor;

The only thrust on the inner bearing 34 is that caused by the weight of the distributor,

and thereis no thrust on theouter thrust bearing 36, so that this bearing, if desired, may be altogether omitted. The upper distributor 20 (Fig. 1-) is similar to the dis tributor 20, but by reason of its position the weight of this distributor is borne on its outer thrust bearing. -For convenience in manufacture, therefore, it is desirable to provide two thrust bearings, for each distributor so that any distributor may be used either on the lower elbow 14 or the upper elbow 14.

It is apparent that'theopening 50 might be given such an area that the fluid pressure within the distributor 'wouldexactly balance the weight of the distributor at any given pressure, and that in this way both thrust bearings might be relieved of all thrust. Such a modification of the device shown is desirable in the cases where the distributor is of considerable weight and where a constant fluid pressure is used. I have found, however, that in most washing machines the fluid pressure cannot accurately be determined in advance and that the wear on one of the thrust bearings caused by the weight of a distributor amounts to very little. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, therefore, I make the area of the opening 50 such as to balance the fluid pressures within the distributor, so as to adapt to use with any desired fluid pressure.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the application of the invention to a rotary distributor of a type used in large parts washing machines. The distributor 60 shown in these figures is in general similar tothe distributor 20 which has been described, except that it is provided with four radial arms 62 instead of only two arms, and consequently with a greater number of discharge openings 64. It follows that in order to balance the fluid pressures in this distributor there is more difference between the effective areas of its intake opening 65 and its additional opening 66 than there is between the corresponding openings in the two-arm distributor 20.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a dishwashing machine, the combination of a conduit having an outlet opening, a pin fixed in said conduit and extending axially throu h said outlet opening, a distributor rotatably mounted on said pin and having discharge openings, an axial intake opening communicating with the outlet opening of the conduit, and a second axial opening opposite said intake opening and of materially'greater diameter than the pin, and a closure for said second axial opening fixed on the pin and having a running fit with the periphery of said second opening.

2. In a washing machine, the combination of a conduit having an outlet opening, a pin fixed in said conduit and extending axially through said outlet opening, a distributor having radial arms containing discharge openings and a central hub having on one side an inlet opening communicating with the outlet opening of the conduitand onits other side an additional opening, an open spider fixed in said hub and rotatably mounted on said pin, and a disc fixed on said pin and closing the outer opening of the hub.

3. In a washing machine, the combination of a conduit having an outlet opening, a pin fixed in said conduit and extending axially through said outlet opening, a distributor having radial arms containing discharge openings, and a central hub having at its inner side 'an intake opening connecting with the outletppening of the conduit, and at its outer side an additional opening, a spider fixed in the hub of the distributor, a sleeve secured to said spider extending into the conduit and rotatably mounted on the pin, and a disc fixed on the pin and serving to close the outer opening in the hub.

4. In a washing machine, the combination of a conduit having an outlet opening, a pin fixed in said conduit and extending. axiall through said outlet opening, a distributor having radial arms containing discharge openings and a central hub having at its inner side an intake opening communicating'with the outlet opening of the conduit, and at its outerside an additional opening, a spider fixed in the hub of the distributor, a sleeve secured to said spider extending into the conduit and rotatably mounted on the .pin, and a disc fixed on the pin and serving to close the outer opening in the hub, a clearance being allowed between the conduit and the intake opening of the hub and between the disc and the outer opening of the hub so that no friction occurs at these points.

5. In a washing machine,the combination with a conduit terminating in an elbow having an open end and a rotary reaction driven distributor having an axial opening communicating with the open end of the elbow, of an axial sleeve fixed in the outer wall of the distributor and extending throughthe communicating openings of the distributor and elbow so that its end engages the inner surface of the outer wall of the elbow, a pin fixed in the outer wall of the elbow and extending through said sleeve, and a rigid stop fixed on said pin beyond the distributor.

6. In a washing machine, the combination of a conduit member having an outlet opening and a rotary distributing member having an axial intake opening communicating with said outlet opening,a pin fixed in one of said members and extending through their communicating'openings, a sleeve fixed in the other of said members extending through their communicating openings and rotatably mounted on the pin, and rigid thrust bearings preventing substantial relative longi tudinal movement of the pin and sleeve and positioned to maintain a narrow clearance space between the edges of the communicating openings of the members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

a HENRY R. MERSELES. 

